Lysimachia Plant Named &#39;Hillyssun&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new variety of  Lysimachia  named ‘Hillyssun’ that is distinguishable by its prostrate or trailing plant habit, dark green rounded leaves which exhibit prominent red-purple veining, and flowers which are mid-yellow in color except for bright orange-red colored eyes or petal bases, is disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(f)to the application for European Community Plant Variety Rights which wasfiled for the instant plant variety on Mar. 28, 2019, File Number2019/0818.

Genus and species: Lysimachia christinae.

Variety denomination: ‘Hillyssun’.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofLysimachia christinae whose natural plant habit is prostrate or creepingbut which may be grown as an ornamental plant for use in hanging basketsor containers. The new variety will be referred to hereinafter by thevariety name ‘Hillyssun’.

‘Hillyssun’ was selected in 2012 by the inventor as a single plant whichthe inventor had observed at the inventor's nursery in Romsey,Hampshire, United Kingdom within a population of plants which theinventor had raised from seeds saved from open pollinations of thespecies Lysimachia christinae. The inventor observed that this oneplant, subsequently named ‘Hillyssun’ exhibited significant commercialattributes in comparison with plants of the species parent, notablymid-green colored leaves with prominent red-purple veination, andflowers with deeper yellow petals whose petal bases are brightorange-red giving the appearance of prominent contrasting eyes.

‘Hillyssun’ was first asexually propagated in 2012 by the inventor atthe inventor's nursery in Romsey, Hampshire, United Kingdom using themethod of stem cuttings. The inventor has confirmed that ‘Hillyssun’ isstable and reproduces true to type in successive generations of asexualreproduction.

SUMMARY

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thedistinguishing characteristics of ‘Hillyssun’. ‘Hillyssun’ has not beentested under all possible conditions and phenotypic differences may beobserved with variations in environmental, climatic, and culturalconditions, without however, any variance in genotype.

-   -   1. ‘Hillyssun’ exhibits a prostrate creeping habit when allowed        to remain on the ground.    -   2. ‘Hillyssun’ may be grown as a hanging basket or container        plant, when the stems hang vertically.    -   3. The leaves of ‘Hillyssun’ are rounded, mid-green in color.    -   4. The veins of the leaves of ‘Hillyssun’ are prominently        red-purple in color, especially the central vein or midrib.    -   5. The flowers of ‘Hillyssun’ are single campanulate and borne        in each leaf axil.    -   6. The flowers of ‘Hillyssun” are mid-yellow in color with        contrasting orange-red eyes.    -   7. ‘Hillyssun’ exhibits summer flowering dormancy in        temperatures exceeding 25 degrees Celsius.    -   8. ‘Hillyssun’ is attractive when not in flower due to its        mid-green leaves with red-purple prominent veining and        red-purple stems.    -   9. After 4 months of growth (started from a rooted cutting) in a        one-gallon container, a hanging plant of ‘Hillyssun’ will        exhibit trailing stems approximately 1 meter in length.    -   10. The stems of ‘Hillyssun’ are red-purple in color.    -   11. No seed has been observed in growing plants of ‘Hillyssun’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photograph, FIG. 1, illustrates the overallappearance of the new Lysimachia cultivar ‘Hillyssun’ showing the colorsas true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductionsof this type. The brown discoloration of some upper older leaves hasresulted from direct sun stress and is not typical of the variety.

The accompanying color photograph, FIG. 2, illustrates a close-up viewof the inflorescences and buds of ‘Hillyssun’.

Photographs were taken in October 2018 at the inventor's nursery inRomsey, Hampshire, United Kingdom using an approximately 6-month-oldplant grown in an unheated glasshouse with light overhead shade.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘Hillyssun’. Observations were collected between Fall2019 and March 2020 in Oxnard, Calif. from a plant which was growingoutdoors in full sun in a 1-gallon container. The plant had been grownnaturally and allowed to trail without any pinching or use of chemicalgrowth regulator. Color determinations were made in accordance with the2007 Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart from London England,except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance areused.

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Primulaceae.        -   Genus.—Lysimachia.        -   Species.—Christinae.        -   Common name.—None known to the inventor.-   Parentage: Seedling raised from the species Lysimachia christinae    (unnamed, unpatented).-   Plant:    -   -   Propagation method.—Stem cuttings retaining at least one            node.        -   Rooting system.—Fine and fibrous.        -   Vigor.—Vigorous trailing habit, either prostrate or hanging.        -   Time to develop roots.—4 to 5 weeks are required for a newly            planted cutting to become established on its own roots.        -   Crop time (hanging basket).—Approximately 4 months are            required to produce a flowering plant in a 1 gallon            container from a rooted cutting.        -   Suggested container size.—1 gallon container and larger if            desired.        -   Use.—Ornamental for use as a hanging basket or container            plant.        -   Type.—Perennial in USDA Zone 7 and warmer.        -   Overall dimensions.—After 4 months growth in a 1 gallon, 1            meter in trailing length and 50 cm in diameter at the            shoulder.        -   Cultural requirements.—Grow in part shade with moderate            water and well-draining soil.        -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 7.        -   Growth habit.—Prostrate in nature, Hanging and trailing in            recommended cultivation.        -   Blooming season.—Summer until fall unless summer flowering            dormancy is triggered by prevailing temperatures exceeding            25 degrees Celsius.        -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—Approximately 7 days.-   Stems:    -   -   Length.—1 m at four months.        -   Diameter.—3 mm.        -   Color.—Ranges between RHS 53B and RHS 58A.        -   Shape.—Cylindrical.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.        -   Strength.—Strong and stiff with pronounced apical dominance.        -   Lateral stems.—Rarely present. Where present, lateral stems            bear only one or two pairs of leaves.-   Leaves:    -   -   Type, arrangement.—Simple, opposite in pairs at each node.        -   Attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Quantity per stem.—20 to 25 pairs borne on 1 m stems.        -   Shape.—Rounded to rounded-deltoid.        -   Dimensions (leaf rounded).—Diameter 3.0 cm to 3.5 cm.        -   Dimensions (leaf rounded-deltoid).—Length 3.0 cm to 3.5 cm,            width 2.5 cm to 3.0 cm.        -   Texture, thickness.—Leathery, 0.5 mm.        -   Venation.—Pinnate.        -   Vein color (midrib towards base).—RHS 59A.        -   Vein color (midrib towards apex and lateral veins).—RHS            N92A.        -   Surface (both surfaces).—Glaucous.        -   Color (both surfaces).—Ranges between RHS 138A and RHS 141B.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Apex.—Rounded.        -   Base.—Cordate.-   Petiole:    -   -   Shape.—Round.        -   Length.—0.5 cm to 1.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—2 mm.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.        -   Color.—Ranges between RHS 53B and RHS 58A.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Type.—Campanulate.        -   Arrangement.—Solitary in leaf axil. 1 inflorescence per leaf            axil, 2 inflorescences per node.        -   Dimensions (fully open).—2.5 cm in diameter, 1.5 cm in depth            (petal apex to corolla tube base).        -   Number of flowers per stem.—10 to 12 buds and flowers at any            one time.        -   Bloom period.—May to July.        -   Lastingness of inflorescence once fully opened.—7 days.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Shape.—Round.        -   Length.—0.5 cm (bud) to 1.5 cm (flower fully open).        -   Diameter.—3 mm.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.        -   Color.—Ranges between RHS 53B and RHS 58A.-   Buds:    -   -   Length (before opening).—0.75 cm.        -   Diameter (before opening).—0.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Conical.        -   Color.—RHS 9A, suffused RHS N30A to RHS N30B towards base.-   Calyx:    -   -   Shape.—Campanulate.        -   Sepal quantity.—5, mostly free, fused towards and at base.        -   Sepal shape, elliptic-lanceolate.—Apex acute; base truncate.        -   Sepal dimensions.—5 mm in length, 3 mm in width.        -   Sepal color (both surfaces).—RHS 137A where free, RHS 59B            towards base.        -   Sepal texture (both surfaces).—Lightly pubescent.        -   Smooth, glabrous (both surfaces).—Length (before opening):            0.75 cm.-   Corolla: Short tube, up to 5 mm in length, before petals diverge.    -   -   Corolla color (both surfaces).—RHS N30A to RHS N30B.-   Petals:    -   -   Quantity.—5, free; fused at base.        -   Shape.—Elliptic.        -   Dimensions.—12 mm to 15 mm in length, 8 mm in width.        -   Color (both surfaces).—RHS 9A, suffused RHS N30A to RHS N30B            towards base.        -   Texture (both surfaces).—Glabrous.        -   Apex.—Rounded, occasionally with small notch 1 mm to 2 mm in            width and depth.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Smooth, entire except for apical notch where            present.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—5 arranged in close bundle 6 mm to 8 mm in length,            2 mm to 3 mm in diameter, color as petal base, RHS N30A to            RHS N30B.        -   Anthers.—Ovate, 1.5 mm in length, 1 mm in width, color            (pollen removed) RHS 155B.        -   Pollen.—Present, copious, color 9C.        -   Pistil.—1, 9 mm to 10 mm in length.        -   Stigma.—Capitate, 1.5 mm in diameter, held approximately 1            mm to 2 mm above anthers, color RHS 157D.        -   Style.—6 mm to 8 mm in length, color RHS N30A to RHS N30B.        -   Ovary.—Not observed.-   Seed: Not observed.-   Disease and pest resistance or susceptibility: None observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

There are no varieties of Lysimachia christinae known to the inventor incommerce. ‘Hillyssun’ may only be distinguished from plants raised asseedlings from the species parent, Lysimachia. In comparison with thespecies parent, the leaves of ‘Hillyssun’ exhibit prominent deepred-purple veins, especially the central vein or midrib. Most notably,the flowers of ‘Hillyssun’ are brighter yellow in color with prominentorange-red eyes (petal bases). Flowers of the species are predominantlyyellow in color throughout.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Lysimachia plant named‘Hillyssun’ as described and illustrated herein.